December is the biggest voucher month of the year for hotels. Guests are actively looking for meaningful, last-minute gifts, and experiential vouchers continue to outperform physical products. But strong results don’t happen automatically.
NB: This is an article from ARO Digital
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To reach your full revenue potential, and to recover quickly if sales are behind target , you need a mix of consistent best practice and fast-acting recovery tactics.
Here’s the full playbook.
#1: General Best Practice: What Every Hotel Should Do in December
- Make Vouchers Highly Visible Online
- Your guests can only buy what they can find.
- Ensure vouchers feature prominently across:
- Homepage hero or banner
- Main navigation
- Room, dining and spa pages (“Gift an experience”)
- Footer and mobile menu
A festive panel and strong visual cues make a measurable difference.
Optimise the Voucher Page for Fast Decisions
In December people skim, not browse. Help them choose quickly with:
- Top 3–5 bestsellers
- Categories such as “Perfect for Couples / Foodies / Spa Lovers”
- Clear value propositions
- Instant email delivery highlighted
- Simple, low-friction purchase flow
Small enhancements lift conversion fast.
Use Email to Drive the Bulk of Sales
Database marketing is your most powerful December lever.
Send focused, useful emails to:
- Past voucher buyers
- Loyal and repeat guests
- Last-minute shoppers (final 72 hours are crucial)
Tone should be helpful and practical, not salesy.
Run Light, Well-Targeted Ads
A tactical push goes a long way:
- Meta retargeting + local gifting audiences
- Google brand and “gift voucher” searches
- Short bursts during peak demand days
The goal is being present when intent is highest.
Activate On-Property Opportunities
In-house guests convert extremely well this time of year. Use:
- QR codes at reception/bar
- In-room tent cards or TV presentations
- Staff prompts at check-out and in the spa
It’s subtle, not pushy and consistently effective.
Engage Local Businesses for Corporate Gifting
Make it easy for companies still arranging client or staff gifts:
- Curated packages
- Simple invoice options
- Quick fulfilment
One corporate purchase can close the gap for several slow days.
